USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom in Vietnam

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:

Vietnam Country Update – This report highlights religious freedom conditions in Vietnam following a USCIRF delegation visit to the country in May 2023. While acknowledging the deepening partnership between Vietnam and the United States, as well as the incremental progress Vietnam made over the last decade on religious freedom, this report describes the country’s persistent—and apparently worsening—egregious, ongoing, and systematic violations. These violations are especially prevalent in rural and provincial levels and present the most challenges to ethnic and religious minority communities. This publication updates USCIRF’s reporting on the haphazard implementation of the 2018 Law on Belief and Religion as well as continued issues in its enforcement.

In its 2023 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State designate Vietnam a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). In November 2022, the U.S. Department of State placed Vietnam on its Special Watch List (SWL), the first such designation since 2005 when it was last named a CPC.

USCIRF will be holding a virtual hearing this week on religious freedom in Vietnam and how the U.S. government can work with the Vietnamese government to address violations.

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].